Yarn-laying mechanism for knitting machines



Sept. 3, 1940. J. L. BEERSQ 2,213,298

YARN-LAYING uscmmsu FOR KNITTING mAcHInEs Filed Nov. s, 1933 s She ts-Sheet 1 |NVENTOR Ju5eph L. [3 Bars ATTORNEY Sept. 3, 1940. J. BEERS YARNLAYING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 3, 1933 3 Sheqcs-She et 3 INVENTOR JUEEFHI L. BEEYE TTORNEY Patented Sept. 3, 1940 UNITED I STATES I YARN-LAYING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Joseph L. Beers, Bloomfield, N. J., asslgnor to Julius Kayser & 00., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 3, 1933, Serial No. 696,473 I so Claims.

This invention relates to straight bar knitting machines and more particularly to machines for the manufacture of full-fashioned stockings, and to multiple yarn-laying mecha- 5 nism for successively laying or feeding a plu-,

rality of yarns in regular predetermined sequence.

My improved yarn-laying mechanism may employed for the laying of yarns of diflerent l weights, materials,colors, or characteristics, for the purpose of producing course-wise stripes or rings, but the mechanism is primarily intended for use in laying a plurality of similar yarns in suchmanner that unavoidable irregularities in i6 one of the yarns will be distributed in the knitted fabric so thatparticu1arly in the case of lightweight pure silk stockings-light and heavy streaks or rings are avoided.

The primary object of the invention resides in 20 the incorporation, in a unitary mechanism, of an operating device for selectively operating the carrier bars in predetermined, repeated sequence, in combination with a locking device for locking the carrier bars selectively in accordance 25 with the predetermined sequence of operation thereof by said operating device.

An object of the invention resides in the direct association and connection of the locking device with the drive mechanism for the carrier bars 30 whereby the two are operated in unison and in proper timed'relation so as to positively prevent.

improper operation and locking of the carrier bars.

One object of my invention is to provide im- 5 proved mechanism whereby three (or other desirable number of) separate yarns are fed to the bank of needles, and whereby a plurality of yarn carriers-preferab1y three-are so manipulated that the separate yarns are fed tothe needles automatically in regular sequence, and so that the loops of succeeding courses are so engaged with each other that theyarn forming each course has its needle loops engaging the sinker loops formed by another yam, and has its sinker loops engaging the needle loops formed by still another yarn, in such manner as to disperse, distribute, or conceal in the knitted fabric any irregularity that might otherwise have been produced by the looping together, in adjacent 50 courses of the needle and sinker. loops of a single yarn of a thickness greater or less than the yarn thicknesspredominating in the fabric. A further objectof. my invention is to provide a simple, rugged and'efiective mechanism where- 55 by three (or other suitable number of) yamcarriers are each moved in one direction in turn, and brought to rest accurately in its proper position after such movement.

Still another object of my invention is to provide simple and effective brake mechanism 6 whereby each of the yarn-carriers is accurately brought to rest on the completion of its yarnlaying movement.

Afeature of the invention resides in the use of a novel type of clutch cooperating with the fric- 10 tion rod of the knitting machine for the accurate operation of the yarn carrier rods and their proper locking against the usual stops.

Another feature of the invention resides in the direct relating of the brake with the driving mechanism and the friction rod and friction box associated therewith, whereby the frictional actionof the brake is applied just before the frictional pressure of the carrier rod against the narrowing head stop is released, thereby firmly and frictionally holding the carrier in position to prevent rebounds.

The invention is further distinguished in the use of a locking device that is mounted independent of the narrowing head and is not sub-' ject to the rebounds or vibratory actions of the narrowing head, thereby eliminating the possibility of broken needles, sharpened sinkers, cut ends and poor selvedges.

, The invention is further distinguished in the use of a carrier operating mechanism that is in permanent engagement with all the carrier bars for their instantaneous operation,--thereby eliminating the necessity of disengaging the mechanism from one carrier bar and engaging another carrier bar before travel can be imparted to the carrier bar.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, 11- lustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it beingunderstood that various changes may be made in the construction, arrangement, and operation without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing 'any of theadvantages thereof .I. I l

In the drawings, Fig. 1: is a side view of: the improved yarn-laying me'chanism,;with-v parts of the. knitting machine shown in 1 cross section;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammaticzview showing the cam means for the engagement, .of the yarnlaying mechanism; ,1 1;}. s,

Fig. 3 is a'similar view showing the cam mechw anism for the braking -means;,-j' .1 j

showing the means for operating the mechanism from the main friction.

The mechanism shownin the drawings is equipped for the laying of three separate yarns or threads which are laid in regular sequence,

- the first thread beinglaid as its carrier moves to the left, the second thread being laid as its carrier moves to the right, the third thread being laid as its carrier then moved to the left; and the first mentioned thread being again laid as its carrier moved to the right, and so on, without any one carrier making more than one stroke each time it is brought into operation.

The mechanism is operated from the main cam shaft l (Fig. 1) of the machine by a cam II that engages a roller l2 on an arm l3 pivoted at l4 on a bracket l5 mounted on a portion l6 of the usual frame of the knitting machine. The roller I2 is moved away from the shaft Ill by the action of the cam I I and the return movement is effected by means of a spring Ileanchored to. a suitable part of the machine. A shogging movement of the cam shaft Hl--at the proper time-brings a member it into engagement with the roller l2 so that the cam mechanism remains inactive until such time as the shaft I0 is again shogged to bring the cam ll back into' engagement with the roller l2.

Secured to the arm I3 is a second arm l9 which is connected to and operates-through the medium of a connecting rod 2llan arm 2| pivotally mounted on one of the shafts (the fashioning shaft") 22 at the rear of the machine. The arm 2I carries a pawl 23 that engages the teeth of a ratchet wheel 24 that is secured by means of pins 25 (Fig. 6) to a cam sleeve 26 all mounted on the said shaft 22 and these parts 2|, 24 and 26 may be each formed in two longitudinal sections adapted for con-- venient assembly upon the shaft 22 as shown for example at Fig. 6 in the case of the arm 2| which is shown with its sections connected together by means of screws 21.

The yarn-laying mechanism is mounted above and is controlled by the said cam sleeve 26 in the manner hereinafter described. A supporting bar 28 is suitably mounted on fixed portiorfs of the framework of the knitting machine and carries a bracket 29 which is secured thereto by means of screws 30 and mounted on the bar 28 between the bracket 29 and a guide member 3| is a longitudinally movable toothed rack 32 that is automatically reciprocated in timed relation to the operation of the machine through the medium 'of the usual friction bar 33 and main friction 34 (Fig. 7) actuated in the usual manner from the Coulier mechanism of the machine. The said friction 34 is provided in the usual manner with pivoted fingers 35 adapted to be swung into or out of operative position for the actuation of the usual carrier rods in the well-known manner. As shown at Fig. 7 the main friction 34 also carries a member 36 having a projecting end 31 that engages a recess in one side face of the said rack 32 (see Fig. 8, the rack being held in engagement with the member 36 by means of a set screw 38), and in this manner the movement of the friction rod amazes a is transmitted to the rack a which latter in turn actuate: three toothed plnions. II for the actuation of the three thread-carriers embodied I in, this improved attachment. Each ofthe three wheels .39 is freely mounted upon. a sleeve 40 carried on a shaft 4|, which latter is mounted in ball-bearings 42 so as to rotate freely in the said bracket 26 carried on the bar 23. Each wheel 36 is connected'by pins 43 to one member 44 of a toothed clutch whose cooperating member 45 is mounted upon the said sleeve 40 so as to rotate freely thereon and so as to move axially into and out of clutching engagement with the member 44. Secured to one end of each shaft 4| is an externally grooved brake pulley 41 which latter is secured to the shaft by means of a screw pin 46. Secured to each clutch member 45 and extending through the adjacent brake pulley 41 are three guide pins 46 adapted to slide freely through the said pulley as the clutch is engaged or disengaged; and mounted on the ends of the pins 48 is a disc 66 secured by nuts 49, while a coil spring II is held in compression between said disc 66 and the pulley 41, so that the clutch member 45 is normally held out of engagement with its cooperating member 44. The operation of the clutch 44, 45 is effected by means of a lever arm 52 pivotally mounted in a bracket 53 on the said bar 28, the upper end of the lever 52 being provided with an adjustable screw pin 54 adapted to engage a spring 55 mounted on the said disc 50, so that the clutchmember 45 may be moved toward the'clutch member 44 and the spring 55 provides a cushion to permit movement of the lever 52 although the teeth of the clutch members are not in position to immediately engage each other. The lower end of each of the three levers 52 is provided with a roll 56 for engagement with the clutch operating cams 51 hereinafter described.

Each of the brake pulleys 41 cooperates with a brake device comprising an arcuate brake shoe 58 and ,a friction member 59 for engagement with the groove of the brake pulley. Each brake shoe 58 is carried upon a pin or plunger 60 mounted in a sleeve or socket 6| adapted to slide vertically in a bracket 62 on the bar 28. The lower extremity of the sleeve or socket 6| carries a roll 63 for engagement with the brake actuating cams 64 hereinafter described, the brake actuating cams 64 hereinafter described, the brake device is normally pressed downward by means of a spring 65 in compression between the said bracket 62 and a shoulder 86 on the member 6|. An internal spring 61 is interposed between the bottom of the socket in the member BI and the lower extremity of the plunger 60 so as to provide a cushioning effect in the braking action; and a pin 68 on the member 60 traverses a slot in the socket 6| and a slot 69 (Fig. 1) in the said bracket 62 so as to limit the relative movement between these parts.

While each of the shafts 4| carries a brake pulley 41 on one of its ends, its opposite end carries a toothed pinion Ill which meshes with and actuates a toothed rack H which latter has a pair of depending lugs 12 to which is secured, by means of two pins I3, one of the usual carrier rods 14 of the machine and each rack H has also secured thereto a thread-carrier arm 15 of any suitable or well known type. The carrier rods 14 are supported and guided in the machine in the usual well known manner and the thread carriers 15 are arranged at suitable positions so as to lay the threads in the desired manner. As shown at Figs. 4 and 5, the three racks H are arranged side by side and three pinions 70' are located above their respective racks, and the ar rangement is such that the actuation of the rack 32 from the-main friction 34 of the machine rotates all'the pinions 39, but the clutch members are sma uated that only one of the three pinions 39 imparts its rotary motion to the corresponding pinion 10, so that one of the racks H is actuated in synchronism with the rack 32 while the remaining racks H remain stationary.

Fonthe actuation of the clutches 44, 45 and of the brakes 59 the rolls 55 and 63 are actuated from the cam sleeve 26 hereinbefore referred to. This cam sleeve 26 is actuated with a step-by-step motion in proper timed relation to the operation of the machine, and carriesa set of cams 51 for actuating'each of the rolls 5% to swing the levers 52 against the action of the springs 5| to engage the clutches. The sleeve 26 also carries three sets of cams 64 for engagement with the rolls 63, the cams 54 of each set being spaced from each other to permit disengagement of the brakes at the proper times under the action of the spring 65. As clearly shown in the diagrammatic views, Figs. 2 and 3, the cam members 5'7 for each roller 55 are spaced at apart, see Fig; 2; while the cams 64 for the rolls 63 are similarly spaced, see Fig. and the arrangement of the cams relatively to each other is such that while one clutch is in engagement the corresponding brake is disengaged. In these diagrammatic views the full lines indicate the cams 51 and earns 64 in their respective positions for one of the thread-carriers, while the dotted lines 51', 64' show therelative positions of the cams for the next carrier, and the dot-and-dash lines 51", 64 indicate the relative pos'itions of the cams .for the third carrier. It will thus be seen that a movement of the cam sleeve 26 through 30 will cause one pair of rollers 56, 63 to disengage a clutch and apply a corresponding brake and will cause another pair of rollers to engage a clutch and disengage a corresponding brake, and in this manner the said carriers are actuated in proper sequence so that one stroke is imparted to each carrier in turn and at the completion of each' operating elements are assembled and connected in a unitary structure so that the operation of the brake device and the yarn carrier bar operating elements will be positive and in proper timed relation to assure proper and full movement of the carrier bars and their positive locking at the end of their stroke so as to prevent broken needles, sharpened sinkers, cut ends, and poor selvedges. The yarn carrier bar operating elements and the brake devices are combined in a unitary structure mounted stationarily upon the knitting machine in relation to the travel of the carrier bars so that the same will not be subject to rebound, which is characteristic of locking devices that are mounted upon the narrowing chine.

the main friction of the knitting machine, ad-

heads of a full fashioned hosiery knitting ma- By operating the invention directly from vantage is taken of the positive operation thereof. In the provision of the positive type of clutch, proper and accurate operation of the carrier bars by the operating elements is assured.

' Attention is called to the fact that the invention may be used solely as a braking and locking device, being very-activeand positive in its oper ation, due to the novel manner of operating the same directly from the main cam shaft of the knitting machine. r

Although the drawings and the above specification disclose the best mode in which I have contemplated embodying my invention, I desire to be in no way limited to the details of such disclosure, for in the further practical application of my invention many changes in form and construction may be made as circumstances require or experience suggests without departing from the spirit of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Yarn-laying mechanism for a straight bar hosierymachine having a main friction, comprising a group of arms carrying individual yarns, rotary means for imparting a yarn-laying movement to each arm, reciprocating means actuated by the main friction of the machine for imparting rotary movement to said rotary means, and selecting means for connecting the reciprocating and rotary means to impart-movement to the said arms in sequence.

2. Yarn-laying mechanism for a straight bar hosiery machine having a main friction, comprising a reciprocating member actuated by the main friction of the machine, a plurality of rotary members actuated by'said reciprocating member, a plurality of yarn-carriers, positive clutch members connecting said carriers with said rotary members, and means for selectively actuating said clutch members to cause transmission of the motion of each rotary member to its yarn-carrier in turn.

3. Yarn-laying mechanism for a straight bar hosiery machine, comprising a plurality of rotary members, a yarn-laying member actuated by each rotary member, a reciprocating member for the actuation of all said rotary members, and positive clutch and friction brake mechanism for imparting the movement of eachone of said rotary members to a yarn-laying member and for retaining the other rotary members at rest, and means for selectively operating the clutch and brake mechanism to insure operation of the yarn-laying members in proper sequence.

4. Yarn-laying mechanism for straight bar hosiery machines, comprising rotary cam mechanism, a plurality of positive clutch and friction brake devices actuated by said mechanism, rotary means cooperating with the clutch and brake devices, means for actuating said rotary means, and a plurality of yarn-carriers actuated thereby and in a sequence determined by the actuation of the clutch and "brake devices.

5. Yarn-laying mechanism for straight. bar hosiery machines having main frictions, comprising a rotary sleeve, a plurality of cams integral with said sleeve, a plurality of clutches and brakes actuated thereby, a plurality of rotary members, reciprocating means for simultaneously actuating said rotary members from the main friction of the machine, a'iplurality of yarn-carriers actuated by said rotary members,

and means for ensuring actuation of each yarncarrier in a sequence determinedby the actuation of the clutches and brakes.

6. Yarn-laying mechanism for a straight bar hosiery machine having a main friction, comprising a group of yarn-carrying arms, rotary means for imparting a yarn-laying movement to said arms, reciprocating means connected to the main friction of the machine for imparting movement to said rotary means, selecting means for connecting the reciprocating and r0- tary means to impart movement to the said arms in sequence, and rotary friction brake mechanism for halting each yarn-carrying arm on the completion of its movement,

7. Yarn-laying mechanism for a straight bar hosiery machine having a main friction, comprising a toothed reciprocating member, means connecting said member directly to the main friction" of the machine, a plurality of rotary toothed members actuated by said reciprocating member, a plurality of yarn-carriers, clutch means connecting said carriers with said rotary members, and cam means for actuating said clutch means selectively to cause transmission of the motion of each rotary member to its yarncarrier in turn.

8. Yarn-laying mechanism for a straight bar hosiery. machine, comprising a plurality of yarncarricrs, rotary means for actuating said carriers in sequence, a bracket carrying said rotary means, friction brake mechanisms for holding each carrier stationary after completion of its yarn-laying movement, and cam means for selectively applying certain of said brake mechanisms.

9. Yarn-laying mechanism for a straight bar hosiery machine having a main friction, comprising a plurality of toothed rotary members, a yarnlaying member actuated by each rotary member, a toothed reciprocating member for the actuation of all said rotary members, means for the positive connection of said reciprocating member with the main friction of the machine, rotary clutch and brake mechanism for transmitting the movement of one of said rotary members to a yarn-laying member and for retaining the other yarn-laying members at rest, and cam means for selectively operating the clutch and brake mech anism to insure operation of the yarn-laying members in proper sequence.

10. Yarn-laying mechanism for a straight bar hosiery machine having a main friction, comprising a plurality of rotary members, a plurality of yarn-laying members, actuated by the rotary members, reciprocating means connected to the main friction" of the machine for actuating the rotary members, cam mechanism and means for imparting step-by-step motion to said cam mechanism for controlling the actuation of the rotary members from the reciprocating member to actuate the yarn-laying members in sequence.

11. Yarn-laying mechanism for straight bar hosiery machines, comprising rotary cam mechanism, means for imparting step-by-step motion thereto, a plurality of positive clutch and friction brake devices actuated by said mechanism, rotary means cooperating with the clutch and brake devices, a reciprocating rack for actuating said rotary means, and a plurality of thread-carriers actuated thereby and in a sequence determined by the actuation of the clutch and brake devices.

12. Yarn-laying mechanism for straight bar hosiery machines, comprising a plurality of sets of rotary earns, a plurality of positive rotary clutches and friction brakes successively actuated by said cams, a plurality of rotary toothed members, a reciprocating rack for simultaneously operating said rotary members, a plurality of thread-carriers operated by said rotary members,

and means for ensuring actuation of each threadcarrier in a sequence determined by the actuation of the clutches and brakes.

13. Yarn-laying mechanism for a straight bar hosiery machine having a main friction, comprising a group of yarn-carrying arms, a rack and pinion for imparting a yarn-laying movement to each arm, reciprocating means for imparting movement to said pinion, means for connecting said reciprocating means with the main friction'{ of the machine and selecting means for connecting the reciprocating means with one of said pinions to impart movement to the said arms in sequence.

14. Yarn-laying mechanism for a straight bar hosiery machine, comprising a reciprocating member, a plurality of rotary members actuated by said reciprocating member, a plurality of racks and pinions, a yarn-carrier on each of said racks, positive clutch members connecting said pinions with said rotary members, and means for actuating said clutch members to cause transmission of the motion of each rotary member to its corresponding thread-carrier in turn.

15. Yarn-laying mechanism for a straight bar hosiery machine having a main friction, comprising a plurality of rotary members, yarn-laying means including a toothed rack actuated by each rotary member, a reciprocating toothed rack connected to the main friction of the machine for the actuation of all said rotary members, and a toothed clutch for imparting movement to each of the yarn-laying means, means for retaining the other rotary members at rest, and means for selectively operating the clutches to insure operation of the yarn-laying members in proper sequence.

16. Yarn-laying mechanism for a straight bar hosiery machine having a main friction, comprising a plurality of rotary members, a plurality of yarn-laying members actuated by the rotary members, reciprocating means connected to the main friction of the machine for actuating the rotary members, clutches for controlling the actuation of the rotary members from the reciprocating member to actuate the yarn-laying members in sequence, and spring and cam means for holding each clutch in turn in its operative position.

17. Yarn-laying mechanism for a straight bar hosiery machine having a main friction, comprising rotary cam mechanism, a plurality of toothed clutch and friction brake devices actuated by said cam mechanism, rotary means cooperating with the clutch and brake devices, reciprocating means directly attached to the main friction of the machine for actuating said rotary means, a plurality of thread-carriers actuated by said rotary means in a regular sequence determined by the actuation of the clutch and brake devices, and cam and ratchet means for operating said rotary cam mechanism.

18. Yarn laying mechanism for a straight bar hosiery machine having a main cam shaft and a main friction, comprising a plurality of yarn carriers, means for actuating said carriers in repeated sequence from the said main friction, and friction brake mechanism operated directly off said main cam shaft for holding each carrie in position after completion of its yarn laying movement.

19. Yarn laying mechanism for a straight bar hosiery machine including amain cam shaft and a main friction comprising a plurality of yarn carriers, means for actuating said carriers in repeated sequence from said main friction, a friction brake for each yarn carrier and operatively associated with said means for holding certain carriers in their position of rest during the yarn laying movement of an associated carrier, and cam and spring means operated directly off said main cam shaft for applying and releasing said brake.

20. In combination with the yarn carrier bars, main friction, and main cam shaft of a full fashioned hosiery knitting machine, actuating mechanism for said carrier bars comprising: means including a rack and pinion drive connection for each carrier bar operatively connected to said main friction and means operatively connected to said first means and operated directly off said main cam shaft for individually and selectively connecting the rack and pinion connection of each carrier bar with said fraction bar.

21. In combination with the yarn carrier bars, friction rod, and main cam shaft of a full 'fashioned hosiery knitting machine, actuating mechanism for said carrier bars comprising: means for individually operating said carrier bars including a rack and pinion drive connection 'for each carrier bar. and means operated directly off said main -cam shaft for individually and selectively connecting the rack and pinion connection of each carrier bar with said friction rod through said first means, and locking devices for all of said rack and pinion drive connections individually manipulated directly from said main cam shaft.

22. In combination with the yarn carrier bars, main friction, and main cam shaft of a full fashioned hosiery knitting machine, actuating mechanism for said carrier bars comprising: a rack connected to each carrier bar, a pinion associated with each rack, a shaft for each pinion, a drive gear loose on each shaft and having a drive connection with said main friction, a clutch device for each drive gear for connecting and ,disconnecting said drive gear from its associated shaft, a manipulating element for each clutch device, a cam device for each element for the latters periodic actuation, a ratchet wheel connected to all of said cam devices, a pawl for the operation thereof, link mechanism for operating said pawl, and a cam on said main cam shaft for the direct, periodic operation of said linkmechanism.

23. In combination with the yarn carrier bars, friction rod, and main cam shaft of a full fashioned hosiery knitting machine, actuating mechanism for said carrier bars comprising: a rackconnected to each carrier bar; a pinion associated with each rack bar; a shaft for each pinion; a drive gear loose on each shaft and in permanent gear connection with said friction rod; a clutch device for each drive gear for connecting and disconnecting said drive gear from its associated shaft; 'a manipulating element for each clutch device; a cam device for each element for the latters periodic actuation; a ratchet wheel connected to all of said cam devices; a pawl for the operation thereof; link mechanism for operating said pawl; a cam on said main cam shaft for the direct, periodic operation of said link mechanism; an individual brake device for each drive gear; a cam element for the periodic operation of each brake device and directly connected to and associated with said cam devices, to be moved in unison therewith in the operation of said link mechanism.

24. Yarn laying mechanism for a straight bar hosiery machine having a main friction comprising a plurality of rotary members, a support therefor secured in a stationary position upon the hosiery machine, a plurality of yarn laying members actuated by the rotary. members, reciprocating means having a direct operative connection with the main friction of the hosiery machine for actuating the rotary members, and

of said rotary members and selectively rendered active and inactive by said means in the operation thereof.

26. An attachment for a full fashioned hosiery machine, in combination, a main cam shaft, a main friction, a group of yarn carrier rods, rack bars secured to said carrier rods, a separate gear associated with each rack bar, means operated from said main cam shaft for selectively controlling the operation of each rack bar by its associated gear, and means carried by and directly operated by said main friction and adapted to selectively operate said gears.

27. An attachment for a full fashioned hosiery machine, in combination, a main cam shaft, a main friction, a group of yarn carrier rods, rack bars secured to said carrier rods, a separate gear associated with each rack bar, means operated from said main cam shaft for selectively controlling the operation of each rack bar by its associated gear, means carried by and directly operated by said main friction for the selective operation of said gears, and a brake device for each gear and under the control of said cam shaft operated means, whereby each carrier bar, through its associated gear, may be braked at the end of its travel.

28. An attachment for a full fashioned hosiery machine, in combination, a power device of the knitting machine, a main friction, a group of yarn carrier rods, rack bars secured to said carried rods, a separate gear for each rack bar, means operated from said power device of the knitting machine for selectively controlling the operation of each rack bar by its associated gear, means carried by and receiving its power from said main friction for the selective operation of said gears, and a brake device for each gear and under the control of said power device operated means, whereby each carrier bar, through its associated gear, may be braked at the end of its travel.

29. In an automatic control mechanism for the movable yarn carrier supporting members of a straight knitting machine, the combination comprising driving means, a plurality of clutch devices for operatively and selectively connecting each of said yarn carrier supporting members to said driving means in driving relation, locking means for said yarn carrier supporting members,

one locking means for each of said yarn carrier supporting members, a separate control element for each of said devices and locking means. a mechanism having a row of determining elements for each yarn carrier supporting member, each of said rows of determining elements being adapted to engage and operate in predetermined order the control elements for the respective yarn carrier supporting member.

JOSEPH L. BEERS. 

